Shuly Xóchitl Cawood writes, teaches and doodles—all while raising two poodles and a dwindling number of orchids. She is an award-winning author of six books that span multiple genres: creative nonfiction (memoir and flash essays), short fiction, and poetry. Shuly’s work has been published in The New York Times, The Sun and Brevity, among others.

Rana Duncan worked with her father to self-publish his memoir, helped her mother publish a compilation of stories and recipes and is currently working on writing her own memoir in poems. She is a native of Appalachia, a retired professor and psychotherapist. Based on her experience as a psychotherapist, Rana believes that the generative life review involved in memoir writing enables meaning-making and healing.

Equipped with a master’s degree in Storytelling, bestselling author Steven James has decades of experience as a professional speaker and novelist and specializes in helping other people tell their own stories. His award-winning book “The Art of the Tale” focuses on using personal stories to inspire, motivate and encourage readers. 

Ann Ledgerwood is a practicing pediatric physical therapist, musician, radio and podcast host, and author of four books for children and families. Bringing her knowledge and insight she has developed over 45 years working with families, Ann writes books designed to be read together so that families can discuss acceptance, friendship, fear, failure, bullying, foster care, adoption, special needs and more from the perspective of a child.

Mary Munsey is a veteran songwriter with success in the Folk, Americana, storytelling, teaching and performance aspects of songwriting. Her lengthy career as a music teacher, professional musician and life observer has given her a plethora of ideas for memoir songwriting. She currently facilitates SOHA, Songwriters of Highlands Appalachia in Southwest Va. and East Tenn. and hosts song swaps, writing sessions, workshops and showcases for songwriters in the region.

Jeannette Walls graduated from Barnard College and was a journalist in New York. Her memoir, “The Glass Castle,” has been a New York Times bestseller for more than eight years. She is also the author of the instant New York Times bestsellers “The Silver Star” and “Half Broke Horses,” which was named one of the ten best books of 2009 by the editors of The New York Times Book Review. Walls lives in rural Virginia with her husband, the writer John Taylor.

Eugene Wolf is an actor/singer/storyteller from Greeneville, Tennessee. He has been a member of Barter Theatre's acting company for 28 years. His signature role is AP Carter in “Keep On The Sunny Side.” His one-man show, “The Book of Mamaw” has been touring for 8 years and received the Backstage Audience Award in New York’s 2019 United Solo Festival.